We always know when it is getting closer to finals in McShain Library because students become stressed. Whether it is the dog tired Freshmen who is passed out at his desk or the diligent Senior who is on edge because he is nervous about the upcoming religion test, stress affects each student and in different ways. Here are a couple of tips to help you manage your stress during finals:

1) Schedule your study time.

Buy a planner or use your phone to schedule time for studying and breaks. You will be thankful that you carefully planned your study time rather than cram at the last minute.

2) Spend the most time studying for difficult subjects.

With only a week before finals, your time is limited. Focus the hardest and longest on your difficult classes. Spend the least amount of time studying for your easiest classes.

3) Take breaks.

Human beings are not robots. We are meant to take breaks. Your brain needs down time in order to be efficient. Study for an hour an then take a 20 minute break.You will find that you focus better.

4) Eat a healthy diet.

You are what you eat. Filling your body with sugar-filled junk food will only make you tired once your blood sugar level crashes. Eat whole-foods such as vegetables, fruits, chicken, and grains. These meals will fill you up and not interfere with your blood sugar level.

5) Sleep!

Our bodies are not meant to go without sleep. Without sleep our minds cannot refresh. Having an unfresh mind makes it difficult to learn.

TED’s technology team is spread out across the country, so we rely on videoconferencing to do our work. But don’t let the image fool you — we rarely wear suits. Image courtesy of iStock

Our 29-member Technology Team is spread out. TED HQ is in New York, but our team includes developers who live in six other states — from Florida to Oregon, with a stopoff in South Dakota — and two other countries. (Yes, tech talent doesn’t always reside in New York and San Francisco.) There are big benefits to being so spread out: Our team’s growth isn’t constrained by the cost of office space, and local challenges like a hurricane or a power outage don’t halt our work entirely. But it also means we have to be very deliberate about how we work, because we rely on virtual collaboration.

We know we’re not alone. More and more workplaces are bringing together…

Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.

…the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, … finds that temperatures will rise by 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius with a doubling of CO2. And the threshold for “catastrophic” climate change that would terminate lifestyles as we know it is 2 C.

Members from the Prep History Club and McShain Library combined forces to invite Dr. Anthony Waskie, a Temple history professor and American Civil War expert, to give a speech commemorating the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Prep students and faculty alike flocked McShain Library to hear what the professor had to say about the controversial historical figure.

April 14th marks the 150 anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. I suppose it isn’t so much a celebration but a commemoration. A time to reflect….What was he trying to achieve? Was he successful? Why? What more needs to be done to realize his vision? I often wonder what a conversation between Lincoln and Martin Luther King might have looked and sounded like.

Abraham Lincoln is, in my humble opinion, the greatest president of the United States. He was able to move the country toward his grand vision because he believed all humans are equal. His humility allowed him to surround himself with competent, intelligent people to whom he listened to and learned from with little fear. Before you agree or disagree check out the the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress or browse through the Lincoln collection at Gutenberg Project.

Your lovely librarians hope that each of you had a fun-filled Spring Break. Now that we have returned it is time to get back in the groove of things. Before you know it, finals will be upon us. During one of your study sessions in McShain Library be sure to check-out our newest books. You will be glad you did.

1) Jaws by Peter Benchley

A killer shark is on the loose in the waters near the small coastal town of Amity. It is up to the police-chief, a marine biologist, and a local fisherman to stop the carnage by hunting down the shark.

2) Eyes Wide Open by Paul Fleischman

Recognized as an Outstanding Science Trade Book for K-12 students by the National Science Teachers Association, Eyes Wide Open explores the destruction of the natural environment by focusing on five key issues: population, consumption, energy, food, and climate.

3) Bad for You: Exposing the War Against Fun by Kevin C. Pyle and Scott Cunningham

Social websites harm children’s minds. Flash mobs disrupt the peace. Day dreaming is a waste of time. Do you ever feel like adults are trying to ruin all of the fun? Yes? This book will help you provide an informed response next time an adult tries to argue against fun.

4) Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly by Conrad Wesselhoeft

Arlo Santiago is a teen with an important decision to make. Either he can continue to be the best player in a drone based video game, or he can pursue the real thing by working for the U.S military. Which will he choose?